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05/12/2003COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER May 12, 2003 Present: Brian J. Aungst Chair/CRA Trustee Whitney Gray CRA Trustee Hoyt P. Hamilton CRA Trustee William C. Jonson CRA Trustee Frank Hibbard CRA Trustee Glen Warren Ex-Officio Mary Rogero Ex-Officio Also present: William B. Horne II City Manager Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone CRA Executive Director/Asst. City Manager Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes In reference to Page 11, Paragraph 2, Trustee Jonson requested a sentence be added to read, “Concern was expressed over the omission of public transportation facilities from the plan.” Trustee Jonson moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 28, 2003, as amended. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously ITEM #3 – Authorize issuance of a Request for Proposals and Qualifications (RFP/Q) for the redevelopment of the Station Square Parking Lot Site on Cleveland Street as an office/retail/residential infill development The purpose of the RFP/Q (Request for Proposals and Qualifications) is to select a qualified developer/development team to redevelop the Station Square Parking Lot site as a mixed-use infill development. The CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) is making the site available for redevelopment as a catalyst for new urban housing and professional office use in the Downtown core. The CRA owns the 35,968+/- square-foot site, which currently is used as a public parking surface lot. The major components of the RFP/Q require the mixed-use development to feature four key land use components: 1) on-site parking structure including public parking; 2) 50,000 square-feet of office space; 3) 5,000 square-feet of ground floor retail; and 4) condominiums. The Developer will purchase the site from the CRA. The appraised value is approximately $720,000 ($20 square-foot). As a catalyst for redevelopment, the CRA will consider purchasing parking spaces in the development for public use. The proposal deadline is June 13, 2003, with a selection made by June 27, 2003. Selection of the development candidate will be based on equal weighted criteria: 1) Development qualifications; 2) Financial capability of development team; 3) Economic benefit to City; and 4) Merits of conceptual development plan. The conceptual development program proposed for the site will need to address height, scale, square footage of specific land uses, proposed architectural style and material types, site and building orientation, and pedestrian scale at Cleveland Street, building setback design concept from Cleveland Street, and project relationship to adjoining Station Square Park. The selected developer will enter into a Development Agreement with the CRA, outlining the purchase and disposition of the site, the design parameters agreed to by the CRA and the City, any incentives, and terms and conditions related to public parking. Economic Development & Housing Director Reg Owens said the City has been approached by individuals interested in redeveloping this site. He reported the RFP/Q will be advertised in several newspapers and distributed via direct mail. The plan would gain 26 parking spaces. He indicated the AmSouth building at the corner of Osceola and Cleveland Street had been sold for approximately $65/square-foot. The Mooko building at the corner of North Ft. Harrison and Cleveland Street is on the market for $1.2-million. As proposed, the project would feature a 12-story building, stepped back from Cleveland Street. Adjacent buildings are 15-stories high. He said the site is an efficient location for parking. Postal employees do not park on this site. In response to a question, Mr. Owens said the CRA has adequate funds in its budget to purchase parking spaces from the planned development. The project has been identified as the key redevelopment parcel in the Downtown. In response to a question, the City Attorney said the statute related to the CRA RFP/Q requires responses to be submitted within 30 days of advertisement. It was suggested historic façades be incorporated. In response to a question, the City Attorney said the CRA’s purchase of parking spaces is subject to negotiation. CRA Executive Director Ralph Stone said the intent is to retain and/or increase the number of public parking spaces. Mr. Owens estimated the proposed development’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing) would equal several thousand dollars annually. Ex-Officio Glen Warren said a mixed-use development is ideal for the site. He was excited that the plan includes Downtown residential units. Ex-Officio Mary Rogero recommended the City be careful when choosing a developer Trustee Gray moved to authorize issuance of a Request for Proposals and Qualifications (RFP/Q) for the redevelopment of the Station Square Parking Lot Site on Cleveland Street as an office/retail/residential infill development, and that the appropriate officials be authorized to execute same. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #4 - Executive Director (Assistant City Manager) Verbal Reports Mr. Stone reported a full-day visit to view redevelopment efforts in West Palm Beach is scheduled for May 22, 2003. Mr. Stone recognized volunteers who improved the landscaping at the Post Office. The combined efforts of the Garden Club, Beautification Committee, and Mainstreet Program were responsible for the improvements. ITEM #5 - Other Business Trustee Jonson said at a recent meeting in Washington, D.C., Robert Melnick, from the University of Oregon, had stated that landscapes should be scenic and meaningful. ITEM #6 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 1:32 p.m.